Greetings, Northwood Community! This will be the last Newsletter of the year,
and as 2012 comes to a close we should plan to celebrate. Celebrating family and
friends, spreading cheer and spending quality time with our loved ones always
fosters good-will. Please take time to enjoy the wonder surrounding us during
the holiday season.
Northwood
PARENT ENGAGEMENT = STUDENT SUCCESS
Although parent involvement and parent
engagement are sometimes used
synonymously there are some important
differences--parents can be involved in their
student’s education without being actively
engaged.
 Being involved means that you are
there, which in itself is important to a
student’s development and overall
academic success.


Being engaged means that you are
aware of what is going on and are a
fundamental part of the process, which
is crucial to a student’s development
and academic success.
To Volunteer contact:
[email protected].
Northwood PTSA wants parents/guardians and
other key stakeholders to be actively engaged
in their student’s education both at home and
at school.
Northwood PTSA Officers:
Yolanda Mazyck, President
st
Brad Sperber, 1 Vice President
nd
Elizabeth Dunn, 2 Vice President
Susan Luck, Secretary
Jim Burke, Treasurer
Thank you for all you do for the Northwood High School community, and enjoy
your family during the holiday season. --Yolanda Mazyck, PTSA President
Calling on ALL Parents, Teachers & Students!
The National PTA is sponsoring a growth incentive program and Northwood’s PTSA would
like to participate. They are offering financial awards of $500-$1,500 to top local PTAs able
to show the most percentage growth by March 31, 2013. Given our current membership of
97 members we can achieve an enormous growth percentage, but WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Take a look at the graphs below to see how Northwood’s PTSA can grow members,
volunteers and financially with ease. Consider this:
1.
If you JOIN the PTSA, you can help us reach our first goal to increase membership
to reflect the members on the Northwood PTSA Listserv.
1454
380
NWHS
Enrollment
2.
ListServ
Members
Lory Green, DCC Cluster Coordinator
Margretta Dimer, MCCPTA Delegate
Andrea Abrams, MCCPTA Delegate
Sue Lubeck, Membership
Terri Adams-Fuller, NAACP Parent Council
Debbie Frew, After Prom Chair
Silent Auction - OPEN
Susan Luck & Jim Burke, Painless Fundraising
Grace Barnes, Latino Parent Outreach &
Scholarship
Dan Gray, Listserv Moderator
Alice Stephens, Newsletter Editor
Angela Serrano, Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Every ListServ Member
Join Northwood PTSA
380
97
PTSA
Membership
NWHS
Enrollment
ListServ
Members
380
190%
Increase
PTSA
Membership
The second goal is to increase the listserv membership to better reflect
Northwood’s enrollment
1454
Board
1454
Current Position
NWHS
Enrollment
900
900
828%
Increase
ListServ
Members
PTSA
Membership
The percentage increases in the above charts would be difficult to obtain for most
schools, but WE ARE NORTHWOOD, and we answer the call for our students. They
need us, the entire Northwood Community, to be present, participate, advocate,
and involved in OUR school.
You can start by becoming a member. Go to the membership form on the PTSA
page on Northwood’s website:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/parents/ptsa.aspx to
access the membership form, or fill out the form included in this newsletter. After
you join, encourage others to join. Help us reach our goal of 198% increased
membership by March 31, 2012.
Dr. Henry Johnson, Principal
Northwood Parent, Teacher, Student Association
WE ARE NORTHWOOD!
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
My message this quarter is very short and brief. Many of you have commented on how much you enjoy the weekly email
updates that you receive from me and I feel this is an excellent way to communicate day to day and week to week events
occurring at school. If you have not received any of my emails, please email me with your email address and I will make
sure that your name is placed on the distribution list. You can contact me at the following email
address: [email protected].
The first quarter ended and the majority of our students experienced great success. Overall as a school, 80% of the student
were eligible. (Eligibility is determined by a student’s grade point average which must be 2.0 or better with no more than
one failing grade.) This is one of the highest eligibility rates we have had at Northwood. Our students continue to be focused
on their education and our teachers continue to work with them to make sure that they have opportunities to learn. I
encourage you to check your child’s grades on a regular basis on edline and keep in contact with your child’s counselor and
teachers to avoid surprises at the end of the semester.
With the holiday season, there is a small window of time remaining for students to complete assignments and prepare for
final exams. This school year, mid-year semester exams will be held on January 14-18th, 2013. The first day of the second
semester is January 23, 2013. Enjoy the holiday season and look for my emails as I communicate to you regularly about life
at Northwood High School.
Dr. Henry Johnson
PAINLESS FUNDRAISING PROGRAMS
There are lots of easy ways to help the PTSA earn funds to
support our students. Register your Giant and Safeway
club
cards
—
contact
Susan
Luck
at [email protected] for more information on how to
register your cards. Save your Snider's receipts and simply
turn them in at Northwood. When shopping online, first
go to Northwood's website and click on the eScrip Online
Mall to access hundreds of vendors and Northwood will
earn a percentage of each sale. It's easy and doesn't cost
you anything extra!
LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY AT
NORTHWOOD!
DO YOU SUPPORT SAFETY AT
NORTHWOOD?
Elizabeth Dunn, PTSA VP
Did your student see a threat on Facebook? Is the carpool
recounting a feud that carried over from a party? Are the
Xbox players discussing a shoving match at school?
The Northwood High School Commemorative Brickway is
newly installed in the school’s central courtyard.
Personalized, engraved bricks surround the Northwood
High School seal in a professionally installed centerpiece.
Installation
of
new
engraved
bricks will be
done twice per
year, with the
next installation
scheduled
for
early May, 2013.
Look
complete
information on the NHS website coming in January and
add your family name, your student’s name or a short
message to a 4 x 8 or 8 x 8 brick. A variety of icons are also
available to highlight a particular interest. All proceeds
above and beyond the cost of the brick and the installation
will be used by the Northwood HS PTSA to support the
Northwood HS community.
for
order
PASS IT ON. Students can’t become good citizens if families
don’t model that behavior. It has never been easier to
phone or email safety information to the school on a
confidential basis. Getting the information that tensions
are rising – or have risen – between two students or two
groups allows Northwood to deploy support where it is
needed.
If your student is at school, a responsible Northwood adult
is never far away. Northwood has a security team; a
Montgomery County police officer at the school four days
per week; 70+ security cameras; a wellness center staff
with conflict resolution and mediation training; and a
teaching and administration staff dedicated to providing a
safe and secure learning environment. If students and their
families share safety information, those resources will be
focused where they can do the most good. If you hear
about a safety issue at Northwood, PASS IT ON.
home page before making online purchases, bidding on
items for the silent auction, mingling with other parents at
the Cocktail Party, buying a cool bag for summer, or just
sending your free will donation in to the school marked
After Prom.
If an issue is brewing, email Security Team Leader Bill Lee
at [email protected] or call the Northwood
Security Office at 301-649-8142 (make sure this number is
in your student’s phone).
Any questions? Want to volunteer? Contact Deb Frew at
301-587-2156 or [email protected].
If an incident is in progress, tell your student that it is NOT
acceptable to walk by (or worse, to watch) as someone
gets hurt or harassed. Instead, students should report the
incident to the nearest adult. Support safety at
Northwood: PASS IT ON.
Ever wonder what goes on during lunch period at
Northwood? Wonder no more! If you have free time from
10:25 - 11:06 am, come to school to be another pair of
eyes and helping hands in the cafeteria. Parents are always
welcome, no appointment necessary. Just don't forget to
check in at the front office first.
AFTER PROM
VOLUNTEER HOURS
After Prom is the event that immediately follows the
Spring Prom, from midnight to five am, keeping our
students entertained in a safe environment. After Prom is
open to all Juniors and Seniors, not just those going to
Prom. The plan this school year is to have After Prom at
Dave and Busters Bethesda. Bus transportation will be
provided.
To make this event possible, the NHS community will be
doing fundraising throughout this school year. The PTSA
encourages all families to participate in some way or all
ways in order to make this success! Here is the plan:
1. Join the PTSA listserve to stay informed. Here are the
instructions to do so. Send an email from your email
account
to
[email protected]. When you receive your
confirmation email, just hit reply and send! You'll be
connected to the Northwood High School PTSA listserv.
2. Online Sally Foster, starts NOW through end of school
year. Go to sallyfoster.com and use code 10467591
when purchasing wrapping paper and gifts! 40% of all
sales go toward After Prom.
3. While shopping online at stores like Best Buy, Amazon,
REI (and hundreds of other stores) sign on to ESCRIP
on the front page of the school website before making
you purchase. NHS can earn up to 16% of sales.
4. Attend the Winter Cocktail Party, to be held in 2013.
5. Watch for the Online Silent Auction in February 2013.
6. Spring "Mixed Bag" Sale (from lunch bags to luggage!)
starts March 2013.
7. Donations from families, alumni, employers and local
businesses.
8. Students will be selling Prom T-shirts and selling
concessions at SGA events.
Start thinking about what DONATION you can make to this
event, for example, buying your holiday paper,
remembering to click on the eScrip icon on Northwood's
LUNCHTIME AT NORTHWOOD
MCPS tracks volunteer hours logged at each school. If you
helped a teacher, chaperoned a field trip, staffed the
concession stand, fundraiser, or volunteered in any way,
please make sure your NHS contribution is recorded! Fill in
the online Volunteer Log Sheet, available at
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/311-56.pdf,
and email it to Ms. Bartoo, NHS Volunteer Coordinator, at
[email protected] or turn it in to her at
Northwood.
COURSE REGISTRATION 2013-2014
The Counseling Department will distribute the following
items to all students in January during our registration
process: NHS Course Bulletin, NHS Registration Card with
recommendation, and Abbreviated Schedule Form for 12th
Graders.
The Northwood High School Registration Card and
registration booklet should be used in conjunction with
one another. This will assist parents and students in
planning a program of study for high school that meets the
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) graduation
requirements and maximizes planning opportunities for
college and careers. The MCPS High School Online Course
Bulletin is designed to provide students and
parents/guardians with information about high school
courses, programs, and career pathways. Visit
www.mcpscourses.org to see an online listing of all MCPS
course offerings.
Students and parents should work as a team to review the
course offerings provided in this Bulletin and the high
school graduation requirements, and make decisions about
course selections. Listen carefully to the counselors as we
present registration information in your classes early in
January. Counselors will meet with students individually to
further explain the registration process and answer
questions.
For questions about course recommendations, speak to
your teacher in that department. For further discussion
about electives offered at Northwood, contact the
appropriate Resource Teacher. For questions about the 4year planning process, graduation requirements, and
course selections, see your counselor.
Advanced Placement Courses: MCPS has developed
courses that meet College Board guidelines to accompany
the Advanced Placement examinations. A qualifying score
on an AP exam may earn the student college credit or
advanced standing in the subject in college. All MCPS
Advanced Placement courses have met the requirements
of and been approved by the College Board Audit
Committee and include concepts and skills that help
students prepare for the AP exams.
Criteria for Enrollment in Honors, Advanced Placement:
All students who have the capability, motivation, or
potential to accept the challenge of honors and/or AP
courses will be accorded an opportunity to do so. We
provide
responsible
open
enrollment.
Student
preparedness can be determined by:
• Mastery of course prerequisites (grades of A, B, or C)
• Parent/guardian recommendations
• Standardized test scores, as appropriate
• Willingness to complete challenging assignments
• Student interest or motivation
• Work samples and portfolios
• Teacher/counselor recommendations
Northwood will evaluate multiple criteria for each student
as no single criterion is to be used to exclude a student
from pursuing honors and AP course work. Students who
are not recommended for enrollment, but who still wish to
be considered for honors or AP course placement, should
appeal to the teacher/counselor for a special review.
colleges and MCPS require four years of math in high
school.
Science: Science teaches you to think analytically and apply
theories to reality. Colleges want to see that you’ve taken
at least three years of laboratory science classes. A good
combination includes two semesters of each of the
following sciences: Biology, Chemistry or physics,
Earth/space science. More competitive schools expect you
to take four years of lab science courses. You can add two
semesters in one of the following subjects: Chemistry or
physics (the science you didn’t already study), Advance
Placement (AP) Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics.
Social Studies: You can better understand local and world
events that are happening now by studying the culture and
history that has shaped them. Here is a suggested course
plan: U.S. history, National, State & Local Government,
World history, One additional year in or other areas.
Foreign Languages: Solid foreign language study shows
colleges you're willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many
colleges require at least two years of study in the same
foreign language, and some prefer more.
Fine Arts: Research indicates that students who participate
in the arts often do better in school and on standardized
tests. The arts help you recognize patterns, discern
differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in
unique ways, often outside a traditional classroom setting.
Many colleges require or recommend one or two
semesters in the arts. Good choices include studio art,
dance, music and drama.
RECOMMENDED CLASSES FOR
COLLEGE SUCCESS
Advanced Placement Program (AP): To be sure you are
ready to take on college-level work, enroll in the most
challenging courses you can in high school, such as honors
or AP courses. Research consistently shows that students
who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience
greater academic success and college graduation rates
than students who don’t take AP. Success in AP also helps
you stand out in the admission process and
To create that foundation, take at least five solid academic
classes every semester. Start with the basics and then
move on to advanced courses. Challenging yourself is part
of what makes school fun; but you need a firm grasp of the
fundamentals before going on to more advanced work.
For More Help in Choosing Courses: If you have concerns
about your class schedule or progress in school, set up a
meeting with your school counselor. There are many
resources to help you with this process and with achieving
your personal, college and career goals.
English: MCPS and colleges require that you take English
every year. These courses help you improve your writing
skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.
GUIDANCE OFFICE INFORMATION
NIGHTS FOR PARENTS
Math: You need algebra and geometry to succeed on
college entrance exams and in college math classes — and
in many careers. Take them early on. That way, you'll be
able to enroll in advanced science and math in high school,
and show colleges you're ready for higher-level work. Most
Registration Information Night at the January, 15, 2013,
PTSA General Meeting at 7:30 pm in the Auditorium.
PSAT Score-back Night for help on understanding your
student's PSAT scores on December 19, 2012, at 7:00 pm.
Show your $$ support for Northwood in 3 ways:



Join the PTSA! $10 of the $15 fee goes directly to the Northwood PTSA.
Include a tax-exempt donation to our Direct Donation Campaign.
Try Painless Fundraising!
Your greatest contribution? Volunteer your time!
Membership and Direct Donation Campaign
$15 Individual membership dues
$
Direct Donation Campaign (tax-exempt, whatever amount your family is comfortable with; all of this
will go directly to the Northwood PTSA)
TOTAL (including the $15 individual membership.)
Checks should be made out to NHS PTSA.
15
$
$ _____________
PTSA Membership / Volunteer Form - 2012-2013 School Year
Name ____________________________________________________________________________________
nt
Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone number __________________________________ E-mail address ___________________________________________
Students’ name and grade:
____________________________________________________________________________________
Yes! I want to volunteer! There are LOTS of ways to help. What are your special talents (for example, fundraising, social events,
bake/donate food and drinks for staff events, PTSA newsletter, student directory, translating/interpreting in another language)? Tell us
below what you want to do. Use the back of this page if needed.
Painless Fundraising
Painless Fundraising is an easy way to support Northwood. Give us your grocery card numbers and save your Snider’s receipts to earn
money for Northwood while doing your regular shopping. It costs you nothing! We need to sign you up EVERY year to keep earning
rebates for our school.
Please register my Giant Bonus Bucks Card for Northwood High School
Giant Bonus Bucks Card 12-Digit Number ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
(Don’t know your Giant Number call 1-877-366-2668)
First 3 letters of your last name _____ ____ ____
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Please register my Safeway Club Card for Northwood High School
Safeway Club Card 11-Digit Number ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
(Don’t know your Safeway number call 1-877-Safeway)
Contact Painless Fundraising Chair with questions: Susan Luck at [email protected]
MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: NHS PTSA, NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, 919 UNIVERSITY BLVD., WEST, SILVER
SPRING, MD 20901
Demuestre su apoyo hacia Northwood en 3 maneras:



Hágase socio de la Asociación de Padres de Familia (PTSA) $10 de los $15 cuota va
directamente a Asociación de Padres de Familia (PTSA) de Northwood
Incluye una a donación de exento de impuestos para la Campana Directa
Trate de hacer Fundraise Painless!
¿Cuál es su mayor contribución? Su tiempo voluntariamente
Membership and Direct Donation Campaign
$15 Afiliacion Individual

$
15
Donación de Campana Directa (exento de impuestos, sin importar los
miembros familiares; todo esto ira directamente a la Asociación de
$
Padres de Familia (PTSA)de Northwood
TOTAL (incluyendo los $15 de afiliación individual.)
Cheques pueden ser escritos a NHS PTSA. $ _____________
Afiliación a la Asociación de Padres de Familia (PTSA) / Formulario Voluntaria – Año Escolar 2012-2013
Nombre _________________________________________________________________________________
Padre / Tutor
Personal
Estudiante
Direccion__________________________________________________________________________________________
Número Telefónico ___________________________ Correo Electrónico _______________________________________
Nombre y grado del Estudiante:________________________________________________________________________
Si! Quiero ser voluntario! Hay muchas maneras de ayudar. ¿Cuáles son sus talentos (Por ejemplo, eventos sociales,
hornera/donar comida y bebidas para eventos escolares, PTSA newsletter, directorio estudiantil, traducción/interpretación
en algún otro idioma? Deje saber en que puede usted ayudar Use la pagina de atrás si necesita más espacio.
Painless Fundraising
Painless Fundraising es una manera fácil para apoyar a Northwood. Denos su número de tarjeta de compras y guarde sus
recibos de Snider’s para recaudar dinero para Northwood mientras usted hace sus compras regulares. No le cuesta nada a
usted! Necesitamos registrarnos TODOS los anos para poder recaudar fondos monetarios para la escuela.
Regístreme para poder colaborar con Northwood. (nota: Usted puede colaborar a dos escuelas si usted gusta en adición de
Northwood)
Numero de Tarjeta de Giant _________________________ Numero de Tarjeta Safeway _________________
Susan Luck - Painless Fundraising Chair: [email protected]
ENVIE POR CORREO: NHS PTSA, NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, 919 UNIVERSITY BLVD., WEST, SILVER SPRING, MD 20901
FROM: Montgomery County Public Schools
Northwood HS PTSA
919 University Blvd., W.
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Rockville, MD
Permit No. 201
WINTER 2012-SPRING 2013 PTSA AGENDA
PTSA meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 pm in the Media Center.
Tuesday, December 10: Wellness Center presents How to Reduce STRESS during the Testing Period
Tuesday, January 15: The Guidance Office presents Registration Information for 2012-2013 courses and
Academic/Program Options — Thomas Edison, Internships, Abbreviated Schedule, Tech, Apprenticeship,
Early College Scholars (in the Auditorium)
Tuesday, February 19: Dr. Johnson presents a School Improvement Plan Update
Tuesday, March 19: HSA/AP Testing
Tuesday, April 16: PTSA 2013-2014 Elections; Presentation by I Drive Smart
Tuesday, May 21: Summer Opportunities for Students — Volunteer/SSL, Employment, Montgomery County
Department of Recreation, Other